I am (not) every woman (2022)

__ lighting design __

A musical narrative about sisterhood (also for brothers and other comrades). Spoken-word artist Rachel Rumai Diaz and soprano Aylin Sezer, propelled by the dynamic playing of the Ragazze Quartet, present a sung and spoken ode to the woman whose voice is too seldom heard. They take a journey from the harmonic power of sisterhood past the sometimes-painful necessity of safe spaces to a rustling revolution that bubbles up throughout the city.

Stories and experiences of women’s communities “at the edge of the city, in the heart of society” form the inspiration for this musical narrative. They are translated into eloquent lyrics by Rachel Rumai Diaz and new music by the Iranian-Dutch composer Aftab Darvishi. Darvishi’s work represents both the western and the eastern musical traditions and is serene and atmospheric, with different timbres and nuances. A poetic and topical musical narrative about sisterhood (also for brothers and other comrades).

Direction
Rianne Meboer, Anouke de Groot (Theaterstraat)

Dramaturgy
Arthur Kneepkens (Theaterstraat)

Composition
Aftab Darvishi

Text
Rachel Rumai Diaz

Performers
Rachel Rumai Diaz (spoken word), Aylin Sezer (soprano), Ragazze Quartet (Rosa Arnold & Jeanita Vriens-van Tongeren – violin; Annemijn Bergkotte – viola; Rebecca Wise – cello)

Lighting design
Pablo Fontdevila

Production
Ragazze Quartet & Theaterstraat

Made possible by
FPK, AFK, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, VSB fonds, Norma fonds, Zabawas

premiered at Over het Ij festival 2022 (Amsterdam, NL)

performances
2023:
– De Vereeniging (Nijmegen, NL)
– Chassé Theater (Breda, NL)
– Energiehuis / Machinehuis (Dordrecht, NL)
– 30cc / Wagehuys (Leuven, BE)
– Korzo Theater (Den Haag, NL)

2022:
– Wonderfeel festival (s’ Graveland, NL)
– Over ‘t Ij festival (Amsterdam, NL) – première